We take a look at the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport’s 2024 updates, where not much has changed on the towing front, we say goodbye to 2WD, and also welcome in new styling.
The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport has always been a great value 4X4 and tow rig. Especially seeing it has up to a 10-year 200,000km warranty. Sure, it’s not going to tow your Cruise Liner down the boat ramp or lug the Taj-Mahal-on-wheels behind you to the local caravan park but as a well-priced daily driver and weekend camper-hauler, they’ve always been a solid choice for a mid-sized SUV.
For the 2024 model year, Mitsubishi Motors Australia has unveiled a range of updates across the Pajero Sport stable. It’s also discontinued the 2WD-only models, which should upset next to nobody, as that’s exactly who bought them.
Exterior updates
The four models – GLX, GLS, Exceed and GSR (on an ascending scale of fancy-pantsy) – have all copped 18in multi-spoke alloy rims, which are finished slightly differently depending on spec level. Single-tone for GLX, two-tone for the mid-rangers and a black finish for the top of the totem GSR.
All grades in the 2024 Pajero Sport range feature updated upper and lower grilles and the all-important front and rear bumper garnishes, which adds up to 30 horsepower according to this bloke I met who was sleeping outside the pub.
Formerly found on the GSR only, the black headlight extensions are now standard across the range. As a result, the GSR gets a few extra styling tweaks thrown in, so you know that it’s still the top dog in the yard.
Most of the other external improvements in the 2024 Pajero Sport range come down to colour selection, which I’ll let you ask your friendly local Mitsubishi dealer all about. But it is worth noting that the GLX now comes standard with auto headlights and rain-sensing wipers. Probably because turning a switch to the ‘on’ position and clicking a lever to enable seeing out of your windscreen seems to be beyond a lot of folks. Don’t believe me? Go for a drive through your nearest urban centre at peak hour and report back. Promise I won’t say I told you so.
Interior updates
If you’ve driven the new-gen Triton, then the brand spankin’ three-spoke steering wheel that’s now in the new 2024 Pajero Sport will look a little familiar, and adaptive cruise control is also now standard across the board – no more switching between standard and speed-altering modes.
The Exceed and GSR models have gained revised instrument display graphics, as seen on the 8-inch digital driver display. The newer and bigger read-out has been introduced to ensure key info is clearly presented to the driver, as well as easy access to anything else they may want to check up on. Nope, stock market fluctuations and Instagram updates are not included in that. It’s there to allow you to focus on the road, not anything superfluous like… hey, is that a 40-Series LandCruiser?!
Where were we? Oh yeah, the flagship Pajero Sport GSR 2024 also has some schmick diamond pattern (because Mitsubishi), two-tone premium synthetic leather upholstery in burgundy and black, which tastefully offsets the dark titanium bezels, hash garnishes and door panels. Ask any interior designer, they’ll tell you.
Towability
Look, we’re largely about towing your accommodation behind you, so it’d be remiss of us not to mention the lugability of the Pajero Sport 2024. Unfortunately, it’s still only rated for 3100kg max braked towing capacity (compared to the MU-X or Everest’s 3500kg). The GVM is 2775, leaving you a 571kg payload and GCM rings in at 5565kg.
While it’s not enough for bigger vans, it’s still more than capable of handling a basic rear-fold camper or lightweight-hybrid. The Super Select II is still one of the better transfer case systems on the market. It comes with an 8-speed auto over the 6-speed commonly found in comparative SUVs, and the price is still a fair amount lower than pretty much any other Japanese-built equivalent. The GLX has a sticker price of $51,450 while the GSR comes in at a hair over $64K, a couple grand cheaper at both ends of the spec-spectrum than the Fortuner.
Are these updates going to blow your hair back? Probably not to be fair. However, it’s nice to know that the Pajero brand is not fading into obscurity and that it’s still a strongly relevant player in the market niche that it has spent the last few decades carving out for itself in this country.
